Antonio Brown and Julio Jones: Total Yards vs. Yards Per Game

When asked who’s the most dangerous wideout in the NFL, most fans will respond with either the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Antonio Brown or the Atlanta Falcons’ Julio Jones. Both Brown and Jones have been top competitors for most receiving yards over the last three seasons, and that consistency has given oddsmakers confidence that they’ll repeat this season. Look no further than Brown and Jones as +400 favourites to accumulate the most receiving yards in 2017.

Antonio Brown (+400) has been a picture of consistency for the Steelers over the last four seasons. He’s played in all but one regular season game over that period and has averaged 1,579 receiving yards per year. With Ben Roethlisberger and offensive coordinator Todd Haley entering their fifth season together, Brown will undoubtedly receive the lion’s share of Big Ben’s targets again in 2017 and challenge for tops in the league.

Entering his seventh year as a professional, Julio Jones (+400) is arguably the most dominant receiver in the game. He has finished either first or second in receiving yards per game in each of the last four seasons, and missed repeating as the top receiver last year by only 39 yards after missing Weeks 14 and 15 with a toe injury. He’s played in all 16 games only twice in his career, while Brown has four 16 game seasons over that same span, so health will likely be the determining factor in 2017 between the two superstars.

New York Giants Odell Beckham Jr.: +500

After Brown and Jones, comes the flashy New York Giant, Odell Beckham Jr. (+500). The fourth-year pro has lit the league on fire since being drafted 12th overall by the Giants in 2014. As a rookie, Beckham Jr. tallied 1,305 receiving yards, which was good for 10th in the league. In his second year, he finished fifth with 1,450 total receiving yards. Last year, he shot up to third in the NFL, and finished only 81 yards behind T.Y. Hilton for the most receiving yards in the league. That quick assent has given oddsmarkers a reason to think he can challenge Brown and Jones for best in the NFL.

If you’re wondering why you haven’t heard about the defending champ T.Y. Hilton yet, you’ll find him fourth overall; he’s a value pick at +1200 odds. Playing for the Indianapolis Colts, who’ve missed the last two playoffs, isn’t helping Hilton’s case.

With three wide receivers taken out of the first nine picks of the 2017 NFL Draft, we may see some new names creeping up the receiving leader board this regular season. There is no doubt, however, that the staples of recent memory will look to hold on to their positions and reputations as elite yard gainers in the NFL.